*This post contains affiliate links. If clicked and a sale is made, I receive a commission. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Super Style Me possible.

With the 4th of July holiday around the corner, we all could use a little more red, white, and blue in our lives. I love the chunky statement necklace trend, and I’ve seen awesome wooden necklaces created by my fellow bloggers, including the ladies at A Beautiful Mess and Aventureux. I decided to take a more seaworthy approach to this easy to DIY accessory.

With this, I bring you my first, and hopefully not my last, video tutorial! I have a bit of experience in video production, so I’m doing okay with the whole editing part of things; however, I can’t get used to the sound of my own voice! We all sound a little different when we’re recorded, but I can’t help but think, “Is THAT what people hear?” Anyway, I hope this inspires you all to make your own necklaces. The process is super simple, and if I can do it, so can you. I also have written instructions below the video with links to products I used.

– Start by painting the large beads. Paint 2 red ones and 3 blue. It’s less messy to put a paintbrush handle through the hole of the beads to keep them from rolling around as you paint them. Set these beads aside to dry.

– Next, use the gold paint pen to paint the four small wooden beads, and let those dry, too.

– Once the large beads are dry, start decorating them with white paint. I made an anchor on a blue bead by drawing a lowercase “t” with a smile on the bottom. You can paint x’s, scribbles, and dashes on the others. The end of the handle a paint brush makes excellent polka dots!

– When all of the beads are totally dry, seal them with spray enamel and let them dry again.

– Cut a length of hemp cord several inches longer than you’d like your necklace to be.

– Your cording may be a little too big to slide though the holes of your beads without a little help. Create a “tape needle” at one end of the cord by folding the tape lengthwise around one of the ends leaving some excess tape sticking out. Press the excess tape together to form a point smaller than the holes of your beads.

– Tie a knot in the cord on the opposite end from the tape needle but still far enough from the edge so your necklace will hang as long as you’d like.

– String your beads, starting with a blue one, by pulling the tape needle through the hole. Slide your bead all of the way to the knot. Continue stringing alternating between large and small beads making sure your anchor bead is in the center.

– Measure the necklace evenly around your neck, making sure it’s even on both sides. Trim the cord to the exact length you’d like your necklace to be.

– Clamp a crimp bead to each end using your pliers. Attach jump rings through the holes of the crimp beads on each end. On one end, use the jump ring to attach the lobster clasp.

– And, you’re done!

…and you can’t have “nautical” without…boats! (None of them are mine.)

I hope you enjoyed my first YouTube tutorial, and please like it and subscribe to my channel if you did! Have a happy July 4th!

*This post contains affiliate links. If clicked and a sale is made, I receive a commission. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Super Style Me possible!

Print mixing isn’t anything new for this little ol’ blog, but I’m never bored with the idea. I feel it doubles your wardrobe options because not only can you wear your prints with solid colors (see the shirt above with a solid navy skirt), but you can also wear prints with other prints. I don’t like to make rules when it comes to most fashion-related things, and the same goes with print mixing. The simple dandelion print of the top works well with the bright watercolor butterflies on the skirt, and the color yellow unites them both. I also like that both prints are artistic interpretations of things occurring in nature. However, I’ve seen mixed prints that look awesome and they take don’t take color, contrast, or theme into consideration. My advice is to experiment and trust your instincts. I know, it’s a bit annoying, like when you used to ask your teacher a question, and he or she turned it around and said, “What do yooooou think?” But, seriously, just try it for yourself. If two (or even three or four) prints do or don’t work well together, you’ll know when you look in the mirror.

Even though this is far from being a tight pencil skirt, it is straighter than what I usually wear. I totally wish I had some pencil skirts though! Since I’ve got hips and a booty, it’s difficult to find them that fit both in that area and in the waist. Circle skirts have always been a safe bet because I only have to have an accurate waist measurement and the rest falls into place. I’ve been thinking about going the custom route and getting a pencil skirt from eShakti (I like this one). I’ve had luck getting more body con-shaped dresses from them before. I consider this skirt to be somewhere in the middle. I don’t think it would get as much twirl action as a circle skirt, but I do have a good bit of wiggle room…not to be confused with a wiggle dress, which is also very cute.

How have you experimented with novelty prints? Let me know in the comments!

I’m sure this isn’t the last time I’ll be sharing outfits with double the prints, so until then, keep mixing it up!

*This post contains affiliate links. If clicked and a sale is made, I receive a commission. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Super Style Me possible!It’s funny how your tastes can change. I remember in my younger, more bratty days, my mom got me a pair of pearl earrings for Christmas. Not being very appreciative, I made her return them, probably to exchange for something more trendy and cheaply made. Now, gravitating more toward classic clothing, I really wish I had those earrings!

The necklace and earring set I’m wearing now aren’t real, but I like that they’re a little more unique than a string of pearls and simple studs.

I had been eying this Bea & Dot dress from ModCloth for a while. It’s so girly! I remember a time when I would have failed to see how beautiful a dress like this is, just like the pearls. I’m so glad I feel differently now. I did wait for it to go on sale – many spring and summer styles at ModCloth are now up to 40% off. A dress like this makes me feel like a classy grown up lady, even if it’s a few years too late.How have your tastes changed? Let me know in the comments!

I’m sure my style will continue to evolve, but I hope I’m now smart enough to recognize classic fashion when I see it.

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This site uses affiliate links and cookies. If you click on particular links and make a purchase within a certain period of time, I receive a commission. This helps me continue doin' what I do and bring you all great content. Also, when a post is sponsored or if I receive a gift from a retailer for a review, I will let ya know. All the words are by me unless otherwise noted, and you will always get my honest opinion about any of the clothes I wear and the products I feature. Pinky promise.